ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL–(Marketwire – July 7, 2010) –   Last Minute Travel, the premier online travel booking site, is encouraging Americans to break the habit of not using all of their hard-earned vacations days and get online now as summer is in full swing. A new survey by LastMinuteTravel.com finds that close to half (45%) of working Americans did not maximize their vacation days in 2009; in fact, 39 percent admitted to losing 10 or more of those days. As we reach the halfway point of 2010, the survey finds that more than three-quarters (78%) of Americans plan to repeat this trend by leaving their paid vacation days on the table.

Survey Says: Americans Are Experiencing A Case of All Work and No Play:

• Lost Moments: On average, Americans have more than half (58%) of their time off waiting to be enjoyed.

• Costly Timing: More than half (51%) say that it’s just too difficult to coordinate schedules with family and friends while 30 percent rarely find the time to plan ahead to take time off.

• The Busier the No Better: Some admit it is more about their jobs and less about personal situations. Almost half (47%) of those not planning to use all of their vacation days this year gripe that they’re simply too busy on the job to take time off. Others (29%) fear there would be too much work to catch up on when they return.

• Money Matters: Four in ten (40%) confess they simply can’t afford a “real vacation.” More parents than non-parents (47% vs. 34%) who don’t plan on using all of their vacation days blame the inability to afford a vacation as the reason they’ll be left with paid time off when 2010 comes to an end.

According to the survey, reasons for lost vacation days are that many find it difficult to take time away from work, coordinate family schedules or they cannot afford a “real vacation.” Nonetheless, working Americans yearn for time off and fantasize about the type of vacation they would take, time and money permitting: close to four in ten (35%) would choose a beach destination where they can relax and unwind; 19 percent would opt for an all-inclusive cruise; 16 percent would go to a family (theme-park) destination; and 15 percent would take a road trip across the country.

LastMinuteTravel.com is enticing Americans to use ’em or lose ’em by making it easier and more affordable for consumers to put their hard earned vacation days to use. The site boasts unbeatable hotel prices, airlines and cruise deals, as well as a robust activities section that encompasses the world’s most popular destinations. 

LastMinuteTravel.com offerings and services make vacation planning easy:

3-5 Star Hotels Under $100:

Consumers longing for a plush hotel experience without leaving their budgets at the wayside will emerge successful on LastMinuteTravel.com. With 17,000 hotel partners in more than 2,500 cities worldwide, travelers can book affordable trips to hot spots like Orlando, San Juan, Honolulu and Cancun with unbeatable 3-5 star properties — such as InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt, Hilton and the Trump Collection to name a few — all for under $100. From a 3-star hotel in Miami starting at $68 a night to a 4-star property in Toronto starting at $95 a night, savvy travelers will reap additional savings over competitors like Priceline and Hotwire 50 percent of the time.

Activities in Advance:

For those Americans who say it’s too difficult to coordinate family and friends’ schedules or who rarely find the time to plan ahead, leave it to LastMinuteTravel.com to do the legwork. The site features a robust tourist activities section in each web site property for customers. The section includes tickets/reservations to more than 2,300 attractions in 80 different travel destinations, allowing online bookers to conveniently plan enjoyable trips with the benefits of lower prices. Examples range from discounted tickets to Cirque de Soleil’s “O” in Las Vegas and Broadway’s “The Lion King,” to a tour through Wine Country to bargains on one-day passes to Orlando’s Sea World. The activities section feature enables travelers to efficiently plan their itineraries in advance without the hassle of coordinating during the vacation.

Something for Everyone:

LastMinuteTravel.com has something for everyone, offering vacation packages, airlines tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and cruises. With tens of thousands of deals and inventory that offers a wide variety of destinations and pricing options, LastMinuteTravel.com is a valuable resource for those who don’t take time away nearly as much as they desire. The site’s proprietary technology and global travel relationships provide customers with the most up-to-date and competitive rates on the best hotel and airfare combinations. All listed hotels come with star ratings, full descriptions, driving directions and many with images so travelers can explore before booking, making the booking process much easier.

LastMinuteTravel.com’s Top Beach Destinations Booked in 2009/2010:

1. Miami
2. San Diego
3. Los Angeles
4. Fort Lauderdale
5. San Juan

LastMinuteTravel.com’s Top 5 Most Affordable Destinations Booked in 2009/2010:

1. Las Vegas
2. Orlando
3. New York
4. Miami
5. Chicago

About LastMinuteTravel.com®
Last Minute Travel® is the premier online website to book last minute prices in advance. Offering vacation packages, airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and cruises, the site provides the best rates in advance and up to the very last second. With tens of thousands of Last Minute Travel deals and inventory that offers a wide variety of destinations and pricing options, LastMinuteTravel.com® has become a go-to resource for today’s time-starved traveler.

LastMinuteTravel.com® is a brand owned by Travel Holdings, Inc., a worldwide travel distribution company.